Senate Bill 265 proposes the creation of a new statute that mandates the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to waive daily admission fees for state parks on April 22 each year, in honor of Earth Day and its founder, Gaylord Nelson. Currently, vehicles entering state parks must display an admission receipt for which a fee is charged, but the DNR has the discretion to waive these fees under certain circumstances. This bill specifically requires the waiver of any daily fee, including issuing fees, on the designated date.

The new legal language introduced in the bill is found in Section 27.01 (9) (b), which outlines the Earth Day fee waiver. This change aims to promote public access to state parks and encourage environmental awareness and appreciation on Earth Day. The bill has garnered support from multiple senators and representatives and has been referred to the Committee on Financial Institutions and Sporting Heritage for further consideration.